Amrinder, Balwant in team for friendly

National football coach Wim Koevermans on Tuesday announced a squad of 20 for India’s international friendly against Bangladesh at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa, on March 5.

While Pune FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh and Churchill Brothers striker Balwant Singh got their maiden call-ups, goalkeeper Subrata Paul, Mumbai FC defender Sandesh Jhingan and Alwyn George made a comeback to the squad.

The squad: Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh, Amrinder Singh, Subrata Paul.

Defenders: Denzil Franco, Arnab Mondal, Aibhorlang Khongjee, Sandesh Jhingan, Gurjinder Kumar, Narayan Das. Mildfielders: Mehtab Hossain, Lalrindika Ralte, Lenny Rodrigues, Rocus Lamare, Alwyn George, Clifford Miranda, Francis Fernandes, Victorino Fernandes.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, Balwant Singh.

Standbys: Subhashish Roychowdhury, Arindam Bhattacharya, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Raju Gaikwad, Nicolau Colaco, Mohan Raj, Pronay Halder, Denson Devadas, Md Rafique, Asif K, CK Vineeth, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Thongkhosiem Haokip, Gabriel Fernandes.

AFC Cup

Pune FC begin their maiden AFC Cup campaign hosting Myanmar’s Nay Pyi Taw FC in a Round 1 encounter at the Shivchhattrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, on Wednesday.

The two Group H teams will be playing for the first time in Asia’s second tier competition.

Like Pune FC, the visitors qualified for the AFC Cup after finishing runners-up in their league in the previous season. Pune FC are midway through their I-League campaign and are confident going into the game, having logged a couple of positive results at home.